Extracellular ATP stimulates steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells via P2 purinoceptors.

Effects of ATP and other purine derivatives on steroidogenesis in primary cultured bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells were examined. At concentrations higher than 1 microM, ATP showed a potent stimulative effect on the cortisol production of the cells. The potency order of the steroidogenic effect of the tested purine derivatives was ATP greater than ADP much greater than adenosine much greater than AMP. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP had no stimulative effect on the steroidogenesis at concentrations as high as 1 mM. Theophylline did not antagonize the steroidogenic effect of ATP. These results suggest that bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells possess the P2y purinoceptors that are linked to steroidogenesis.